Federal ombudsperson orders termination of PEMRA official over sexual harassment

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2021 |  Cherie Conela

Kashmala Tariq ordered the dismissal of a PEMRA official for sexually harassing an employee. Another official was also penalized as a facilitator in the case.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplaces, Kashmala Tariq has ordered the termination of a senior PEMRA official for sexually harassing a female employee and Rs 2 million in compensation to the victim.

According to the ombudsperson, a woman working at Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) headquarters in Islamabad on a contingent basis had filed an online complaint with the ombudsperson on January 20, 2020. She accused Director General Haji Adam of harassing her.

Quoting the complainant, the order said that when she refused "sexual favours," his behavior turned "rude, disgusting and demeaning" towards her.

"Bringing all the pieces of evidence together [...] the complainant has proved her allegation that [Adam] sexually harassed her [at] her workplace on November 11, 2019," the order said.

Adam failed to substantiate his stance that he had been falsely implicated in the case by the complainant "at the instigation and conspiracy of someone else," it added.

The ombudsperson said the action was to be taken under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 and directed that he be dismissed from service and pay Rs2m in compensation to the complainant.

She also declared another PEMRA official, Fakhruddin Mughal, as having been proven to be "a facilitator" of Adam and ruled that he, too, was to face action under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.

Kashmala Tariq ordered Mughal's demotion along with a payment of Rs500,000 in compensation to the complainant.

The ombudsperson directed the PEMRA management to submit a compliance report within seven days after receiving the order.

KEY POINTS:

• Kashmala Tariq is the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment.
• A senior PEMRA official was terminated for sexual harassment.
• The victim was awarded Rs 2 million in compensation.
• Another official, Fakhruddin Mughal, faced demotion and financial penalties.
• PEMRA must submit a compliance report within seven days.